Instrument panel 1997 question....

[IndyMac]

Where can I find a description of all the warning lights on my intrument panel? (hopefully on the web somewhere.) 1997 Sunfire, SE.

[SirCull]

Should be in the owners manual....otherwise just use your best judgment...they are usually pretty ovbious

What are you having trouble with?

[IndyMac]

I don't have the owners manual and the repair book I have doesn't descibe, or even show, the symbols.

I just want to know what they mean before something goes wrong.

[King Of Crunk]

WTF are you talking about? the lights are shiny and bright....and work better at night.....details M-F'r...sheesh

[matt09524]

Ok well, I think the above response is a bit harsh, but here goes...

CHECK with a picture of engine above - something non-fatal is wrong
AIR BAG - Your Air Bag system is likely not working.
ETS OFF - Traction Control system is off (the button on the shifter is not on)
Red oil can - Stop and put oil in your car immediately then find out why the light came on. You have a leak or you have not changed the oil in like 30k miles or something.
ABS - Something is wrong with your anti-lock brakes
(Three squiggly vertical lines) - over heating, loss of coolant.
ANTI THEFT - if installed, something wrong with it or it is on (whether it should be or not)
Headlight looking thing - day time running lights on (turns off when headlights are on)
Seat belt (obvious picture) - Your seat belt is not on, or the switch in the drivers buckle is broke.

There are probably a couple more that im nto thinking of, those are the common ones.

[IndyMac]

The one that is on looks like a square, with what I'm assuming is a line that looks like water, with an arrow above the box pointing down. My guess is that it means, low water level or some sensor has gone bad. Thanks for the help.

[hotbug1776]

check your coolant, IIRC that's the low coolant warning, look at the tank, and if it's to proper level, then the sensor is bad.

[hazzzmattt]

im guessing you havent owned to many cars yet but your gonna. best thing to do is buy an owners manual. you can get almost any of them on e-bay for a buck or two

[hazzzmattt]

and..." a little harsh" is the understatement of the week. give the kid a break for god sake. you gotta get the answers to questions somewhere.

[hotbug1776]

He's just jealous that his car can be beat by a few of us on here LOL. Some people dont realize that all car owners are not ASE certified, and they only want some info to not have to visit the dealer and pay high prices.

[mike2004tct]

Originally Posted by hotbug1776

He's just jealous that his car can be beat by a few of us on here LOL. Some people dont realize that all car owners are not ASE certified, and they only want some info to not have to visit the dealer and pay high prices.

By the description above, my first guess was low fuel indicator.
Isn't the symbol for coolant the International water bucket with a spout?

(My Chrysler has a similar indicator for fuel, a box with a hose and wavy lines)

So much for the International visual displays instead of writing, what do blind people use - afterall, the local ATM machine I use has braille symbols on the drive-thru machine..... Blind drivers, not a good thing.

[matt09524]

On a lot of cars from atleats 97 up, "CHECK GAUGES" means your fuel is low. That light you described is indeed the coolant system. I was wrong about the 3 vertical squiggly lines. hehe Check your radiator for leaks, as wells as your lines to and from and your resevoir.